Apparatus for handling electric connector or tapping devices.



J M. DOWNS.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ELECTRIC UONNEGTOR 0R TAPPING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.9, 1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

a'wvahtoz G-bfomaua voRR/s PETERS C0. PHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGIUN. D L" pair s JOHN M. DOWNS, 0F SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' PatentedFeb. ie, ieia.

Application filed March 9, 1914. Serial No. 823,382.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that 1, JOHN M. Downs, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Savannah, in the county of Chatham and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Electric Connector or Tapping Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for placing a spring connector upon a high power electric feed wire and for removing the same therefrom.

An important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove mentioned character, which will render it safe to place the spring connector upon a high power feed wire and remove the same therefrom, and at the same time enabling such operation to be performed in a convenient and expeditious manner.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, chea to manufacture, strong, and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanving drawings forminga part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus, Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the same, and, Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-8 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherein is illustrated-a preferred embodiment of mv invention. the numeral 4 designates a handle. constituting the bodv portion of the apparatus, the same being formed of wood or any other suitable insulating material. This handle carries a clamp or vise 5, comprising a relatively stationar jaw 6, formed upon one end of the handle 4.

. The numeral 7 designates a co-acting jaw, which is pivoted to the handle 4. as shown at 8. The jaw 7 is preferably formed of wood. or anv other suitable insulating material. The jaw 7 is swung outwardly. when released. by a suitably stifi coil spring 7 disposed between the same and the relativelv stationary jaw 6. The jaw 6 is provided with a transverse opening 9, receiving therethrough a transverse bar 10, provided atonev end with-an enlarged head 11. The

outer end of the transverse bar 10 passes through a relatively large transverse opening 11 formed in'the co-acting jaw 7, the opening llbeing sufficiently large to permit of the oscillatory movement of the jaw 7. The outer end of the transverse bar 10 is forked to receive-an operating cam 12, pivoted thereto by means of a transverse bolt 13 or the like. This cam is formed upon a vertically swinging lover or arm 14, as shown. Pivotally connected with the cam 12, as shown at 15, is a pawl-bell-crank-lever 15 adapted to engage and .disengage teeth 16 formed upon the transverse bar 10. The function of this pawl and the teeth 16 is to lock the lever 14 against upward movement,

such lever being swung downwardly to force the pivoted jaw 7 toward the relatively stationary jaw 6. The pawl-bellcrank-lever-15 is urged toward the teeth 16 by a spring 17. Attached to the outer end of the lever 14 is a cord 18 or the like extending downwardly adjacent the handle 4. Attached to the free end of the pawl-bellends the reciprocatory rods 22 are off-set I laterally and outwardlv, providing shoulders 24 and extensions 25. The'numeral 26 designates coil springs, surrounding the upper portions of the rods 22 and confined be tween the upper stationary bracket 20 and the shoulders 24, whereby they serve to normally hold the rods 22 elevated with relation to the jaw 6.

The numeral 27 designates an inverted approximately U-shaped removing element or rod, detachably and rigidly connected with the extensions 25 by means of couplings 28 or the like.

The numeral 29 designates my improved spring connector to be placed upon and removed from the high power feed wire 30. This spring connector includes spring blades 31 and32, disposed in different planes so the wire 30. No further detailed description of the spring connector 29 is deemed necessary, as the same is fully shown and described in my copending application for Wire connector filed March 9, 1914, Serial No. 823,381. Connected with theslidable bracket 23 is an'attaching element 33, with which is connected a depending cord as or the like, extending downwardly adjacent the handle 4. l

- The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When it is desired to place the spring connector 29 uponthe feed wire 30 the lower portion of the connector is disposed between the jaws '6 and 7 of the vise or clamp 5,'subsequently to which the arm or lever'le is swung downwardly to close the jaw 7. "Theoperato r by holding the handle 4 may now place the connector 29 upon the wire30 by an upward longitudinal movement "of the same; Whenthe connector 29 is" thus placed upon the wire the pawl'15" is moved torelease the lever '14, such lever moving upwardly-by virtue ofthe spring 7 whereby'the clampor visewfill release the connector'29. 'VV'hen it is desiredto remove the connector 29, it 'is necessary to spread the upper ends of the "spring blades 31" and 32. This is accomplished by inserting the horizontal portion ofthe inverted U-shaped rod 27 between the same,.as shown 'inFig. 1. The operator now holds the'handle't stationary and pulls upon the cord 34:,whereby the inverted U-shaped rod 27' is moved downwardly to spre'ad'the blades of the connector 29. Whilethese blades are thus being spread, the connector is engaged by the vise or clamp, which is pulled downwardly, whereby the connector will readily disengage the wire,

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the sa1ne,"and that various changes in the shape, size andarr'angementof parts be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

,Having thus described my invention, I claim 1 In apparatus of the characterjd'escribed, the combination with a handle formed of insulating material; ofa clamp "carried 'by the upper end thereof to temporarily hold a spring connector, means to operate the clamp, and means connected with th'e handle "to engage and laterally spread the blades of the spring connector'and'inovable with relation to the handle.

In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a handle formed of insnlating material, of means connected therewithto detachably hold a spring conhector, and separate means connected with the handle for engaging and "laterally spreading the blades of the spring connector and movable with relation to the handle.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a handle formed of insulating material and provided with a relatively stationary jaw, of a co-acting jaw pivoted to the handle, means to swing the pivoted jaw outwardly when released, means to move the pivoted jaw to the inner position, and means to lock the jawl in such position.

' at. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a handle formed of insulating material and provided with a jaw, of a co-acting jaw pivoted to the handle, a spring arranged between the co-acting jaws to automatically swing the pivoted jaw to the outer position when released, a transverse bar connected with the relatively stationary jaw and passing through a transverse opening formed through the pivoted jaw, a lever provided with a cam pivotally connected with the transverse bar and slidably engaging the pivoted jaw to swing the same inwardly, teeth formed upon the outer end of the transverse bar, and a pawl pivoted tothe lever and adapted to engage the teeth. i

- 5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a handle formed of insulating material, of a spring connector removing element having a portion adapted to pass between the blades of the connector to spread the same, and reciprocatory operating means mounted upon the handle and connected with the spring connector removing element.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a device for spreading the blades'o'f a spring connector, of means movable with relation'to the handle to simultaneously grip the spring connector while the blades are thus being spread and remove the same from a wire.

7. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination with a handle, of a rod mounted thereon to reciprocate with relation thereto, a spreading element attached to the reciprocatory rod and a holding device secured to the'handleand arranged in codperative relation to the spreading element.

In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a "handle, of a reciprocatory rod mounted thereon, a spring to move the rod in one direction, means to move the rod in an opposite direction, and a spreading element attached to the rod.

9. 'In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a handle, of a guide bracket mounted thereon, a plurality of reciprocatory rods mounted within the guide bracket, springs surrounding the reciprocatory rods to move them in one direction,

means to move the rods in an opposite direction, and an inverted U-shaped'element atholding a spring connector or the like, a

tached to the corresponding ends of the same, and means to move the spreading de- 10 rods. vice.

'10. In apparatus of the character described, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature the combination with a handle, of means for in presence of tWo Witnesses.

device connected With the handleand mov- JOHN DOWNS' able with relation thereto, and adapted to engage with the blade of the spring connector or the like to laterally spread the Witnesses L. M. Srson, DAvn) MmnLEToN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

